Guest Post from Sarah of One Chance

Today's guest post comes from one of my newest friends, Sarah from One Chance.  I met Sarah through Emily a few years ago, but we've just recently gotten closer through our mutual interest in blogging.  Sarah is an amazing photographer.  I am always in awe of the pictures she takes and shares on her blog.  She truly has an eye for capturing the little everyday moments and making them come to new life through her lens.  I was so happy to see she decided to share some photography resources she utilizes because she is definitely one to learn from!

Hello everyone! I'm Sarah and I blog over at One Chance I can also be found here photographing semi-regular OOTD collaborations. I was thrilled when Kassie asked me to guest post for her while she and Jason are living it up on their trip to the Pacific Northwest. I hope you'll enjoy reading some of my favorite resources for photographers.

My interest in photography really peaked in high school in yearbook class and in college I was fortunate to be able to minor in photography. Learning to shoot film was pivotal in my understanding of the camera. It forced me to get out of my comfort zone, step away from auto and really learn the process for shooting in manual. If you have the opportunity, I can't recommend taking a film photography class enough. A lot of photography classes come with a lengthy list of prerequisites that, unfortunately, may make taking a class unattainable. Luckily, the internet is a great supplement and I am going to link you to some of my favorite photography resources. 

Intro to photography final - July 2010

Jasmine Star
Jasmine is a great resource for photography tips, although she is a wedding photographer, the tips she shares easily transcend a specific genre of photography. If you read any of the tips listed below, I urge you to start with Jasmine's! 1. How to shoot in manual 2. The benefits of using prime lenses  3. How to photograph with wide apertures

Melissa Jill
Melissa is a wedding photographer based out of Arizona and like Jasmine, she loves to share her knowledge of photography. Here is a link to her blog featuring her photographer resources.

July 2013

A Beautiful Mess
I love their photography section because the girls tailor their tips to a non-professional audience. A few of my favorites are photographing with backlight & sunflare, tips for lifestyle photography, tips for outdoor photography.

Delightfully Tacky
Elizabeth is a fast favorite for inspiration and she offers a ton of tips and how to's for those interested in photography. Self Portraits - This resource is one that I keep returning to. It is chock full of tips and how to's, it definitely pushed me to think differently when behind the camera. Camera vs Lens - This post is a great point of reference for those looking to but their first dslr or lens.

Creative Live
This online resource streams live courses online that are taught by top-notch photographers. You can watch live for free or purchase a course after the original air date.  Watch their calendar for topics that might interest you.

August 2013

I hope you enjoyed these links, as they have helped me learn a lot along the way and I continuously look to them for inspiration. Be sure to leave your favorite resources in the comments!

Homemade Body Scrubs

To me, there are few things better than having super-soft, moisturized skin.  I absolutely hate when my skin is dry, especially my hands.  It weirds me out to touch ANYTHING when my hands are dry and scaly.  I keep hand cream in my purse and on my nightstand, and I am constantly guilty of having too many lotions in the bathroom cabinets and/or counter.  I've always loved body scrubs.  The rougher, the better.  

A few months ago, I went to get a pedicure at a local nail salon and decided to splurge and get the "deluxe spa pedicure."  Oh my word.  It was amazing!  The best part was when she used a sugar scrub on my calves, shins and feet.  I could just feel it scrubbing away all the gross dry, dead skin cells and revealing fresh, beautiful soft skin underneath.  I was shocked by what a difference it made, but I really didn't feel like going over to Bath & Body Works to buy a scrub for $20.  So when I got home, I did some research to find out what it would take to make my own.  

Because I am currently obsessed with coconut oil, the first body scrub I made included coconut oil, brown sugar, white sugar and a couple drops of vanilla extract for a sweet scent.  I just mixed up all of the ingredients and scooped it into a small mason jar with a screw-on lid and put it in the shower so I could use it easily while bathing.  

Last week, I decided to make another one because I had run out of the vanilla one a while ago and was missing my super-soft skin!  This time I used coconut oil, lime juice, honey and white sugar.  This one has a very light citrusy scent, and I'm really enjoying it so far! 

There are no limits as to what you can put in your body scrub - after all, it's going on your body!  I've read about some scrubs that use coffee grounds or lavender or tea leaves, and more.  I can't wait to experiment with other ingredients!  I adore my new hobby.  :)

xoxo